In spite of the government directive that ‘the nature of the land cannot be changed’, the agricultural lands are being turned into deep ponds in various villages of Puthia Upazila of Rajshahi.

Unplanned ponds have been dug in thousands of bighas of cropland in six unions of the upazila in the last one month. Excavator is cutting the soil and using it for various purposes including brick kilns. On the one hand, the fertility of the land is decreasing, on the other hand, the crop land is being destroyed.

Meanwhile, last month, the mobile court fined two pond owners Tk 1 lakh. However, the local residents complained that to avoid legal complications, the landowners entered into a special agreement with an influential leader of the ruling party and two office officials to dig the pond. After that, the digging of the pond started. And those who do not go to the agreement have to pay jail and fine.

It has been reported that this year in Kandra village of Sadar union of upazila, Dhopapara of Jeupara union, Gayingpara, Bilmaria, Ratwal para of Shilmaria union and Valukgachi union area, pond digging work is going on in full swing in 6 places.

In this regard, Upazila Agriculture Extension Officer Tanmoy Kumar Sarkar said that ponds have been illegally dug in thousands of acres of cropland in different areas of the upazila in the last three years. However, most ponds have been dug in Shilmaria, Valukgachi and Jiupara union areas of the upazila.

Complaints are coming again this year, ponds have been dug to grow crops in different areas. He said, due to the effect of digging ponds everywhere, long-term burning occurs in the area during the monsoon season. Also, the amount of cropland is decreasing very fast in the area. Which will affect food supply in the future.

Abdul Jalil, a farmer of Jiupara Union, said that several ponds are being dug with Veku machines in Dhopapara, Bilmaria and Sarishabari areas since last one month. And the owners of 10-12 illegal brick kilns of the upazila are taking the soil of the pond.

Rural roads are in poor condition due to excessive soil transportation by tractors. He said that these matters have been reported to the Thana and Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office and the Thana Police, but there is no remedy for mysterious reasons.

A farmer named Monirul Islam said that the digging of ponds in all areas of the upazila has started with the contract of large amount of money. And an influential leader of the ruling party is helping the excavation work. Along with that, he also agreed with two departments of pond diggers. That’s why the digging of ponds does not stop for crops. And landowners and fishermen dug public ponds. Sometimes mobile court raids are not stopped in the end. Cultivated land becomes a pond after digging.

In this regard, Puthia Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nurul Hai Mohsmad Anach PAA said that the administration is in a strict position to stop the digging of ponds. The mobile court also raided Kandra village last December. The owner was fined Tk 50,000 for digging a pond in the cropland there. The rest were also raided. But no one was found there.
He said that along with the administration to stop the digging of ponds in the cropland, the locals should form public resistance.